As healthcare continues to move out of hospital to other places in the community, policymakers are specifically looking for one type of advanced registered nurse – a nurse (NP) – to help meet the growing need for high quality and accessible healthcare. Can nurse practitioners prescribe medication?
The Regulation on (registered) nurses and nurses was amended on July 26, 2016 to include prescribing controlled drugs and substances as part of the practice for nurses (NPs). The changed doctor prescribing nurses, including prescription drugs and controlled substances (CDS), entered into force the same day.
What does this change mean?
The revised NP norms for prescribing medicines and controlled substances have been included in the NP Scope of Practice, starting on page 26. The NP prescriptions standards have been developed in close cooperation with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC and the College of Pharmacists of BC.
Some key points about this change:
- Before starting to prescribe controlled medicines and substances, IBOs must ensure that they have competence in prescribing medicines, full educational requirements, and any specific employer requirements.
- NPs can prescribe most narcotic drugs (e.g. Codeine, morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone, fentanyl) and benzodiazepines.
- NPs are fully responsible for the prescriptions they write – regardless of whether they initiate or continue the prescription. Doctors are not responsible for supervision or countersigning.
- IBOs must practice in accordance with the policy of the Controlled Prescription Program and have access to PharmaNet before prescribing the drug.
Are there limits to what NP can prescribe?
What medications can the nurses prescribe? Nurses can prescribe medication with different levels of doctor supervision. Some states support authorities with limited, limited and full practice. Nurses (NPs) may prescribe antibiotics, contraceptives, as well as other uncontrolled substances in all 50 conditions.
The question is: what medications can the nurse prescribe?
As a highly educated and experienced medical staff, a nurse can prescribe antidepressants such as Prozac and Zoloft. In accordance with the Alaska Nursing Statute, nurses (NPs) must submit an application for prescription of control substances (Annex II-V). The Indiana Nurse Practice Act limits prescriptive rights with the requirement to agree in cooperation with a physician and register controlled substances (CSR). Drug prescription by a nurse is allowed in 23 states without medical cooperation or supervision.
Nurse care is considered comparable to doctor’s care. Although nursing care and the nurse’s prescription are important, it is not intended to replace doctors, but rather to collaborate. Substances controlled by a doctor controlling a nurse must include the DEA registration number. For medications in Schedules II and II, the nurse is authorized to prescribe a 30-day dose.
